Larger infants may benefit from early induced labor

If a New York mother attempts to give birth to a baby who is larger than
normal, the baby may potentially be at risk for suffering shoulder dystocia.
This disorder occurs when one or both of the baby's shoulders becomes
lodged behind the mother's pelvic bone during the delivery. However,
the results of a recent European study suggest that inducing labor for
large babies one to two weeks early could mitigate the risk.

Approximately 800 women whose babies were in the 95th percentile for weight
were chosen to participate in the study. Nearly 50 percent of the women
had their labor induced while the rest of the women had their pregnancies
monitored. In the group of women who had their labor induced, 2 percent
of infants suffered
shoulder dystocia. Of the mothers who were monitored, 6 percent of the infants born suffered
shoulder dystocia.

While shoulder dystocia occurs in approximately 1 percent of infants that
are born at normal weight, the risk increases to 10 percent of babies
who are oversized at birth. Shoulder dystocia can result in serious complications
for the infant, including fractures and nerve damage. In extreme cases,
the infant could potentially suffocate during the delivery. However, children
who are born too early can also suffer complications that could affect
their growth. Thus, the researchers stated that inducing labor early may
be best only for infants that are particularly larger than normal-sized infants.

Not all deliveries go smoothly. In some cases, an infant may suffer from
oxygen deprivation or fractures if a problem occurs. If an infant suffers a
birth injury during the delivery processthat could have potentially been avoided, the parents of the injured infant
may want to speak with an attorney about the advisability of filing a
medical malpractice lawsuit in order to seek compensation for the damages
that were sustained.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

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